(Editor's note--Ch. No. 3008, adopted June 17, 1974, did not expressly amend this Code, hence inclusion herein of Secs. 1--18 as Ch. 13 1/2, Secs. 13 1/2-1--13 1/2-18, was at the discretion of the editors. In the codification of said Ch. No. 3008, the editors revised catchlines in several instances in order to facilitate indexing, reference and use.)
For the purpose of these regulations:
(a) Massage shall mean manipulation or conditioning of part or parts of the body by manual, mechanical or other means as a beauty treatment, for purported health or medical treatment, or for the purpose of invigoration.
(b) Establishment for giving massage, vapor, pool, shower or other baths shall mean the office, place of business, or premises where massage is practiced or where therapeutic or conditioning baths of water, vapor or other substance are given.
(c) Approved shall mean approved by the Woonsocket City council in accordance with accepted standards.
(d) Approved course of massage shall mean a course on the art and science of massage which includes both theory and practice and is approved by the city council of the City of Woonsocket.
(e) Masseur shall mean a male who practices massage; masseuse shall mean a female who practices massage. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 3, 6-17-74)
For the purpose of these regulations:
(a) Persons excepted: Physicians, nurses, physical therapists, school athletic trainers, chiropodists (podiatrists), and/or chiropractors duly licensed by the State of Rhode Island.
(b) Establishment exceptions: Hospitals, nursing and convalescent homes and other similar licensed institutions where massage and baths may be given are excluded from the definition of an establishment. Also, any facility conducting the services of a hospital, nursing and convalescent home, or other similar institution as determined by the Woonsocket City Council, but due to some limiting factor is not subject to licensing, shall be similarly excluded from the definition of an establishment. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 4, 6-17-74)
No person, firm or corporation shall practice or conduct an establishment for the giving of massage, vapor, pool, or other baths for hire, reward or compensation, nor shall any person, firm or corporation advise or hold himself, itself, or themselves out as being engaged in the business of massage or the giving of said baths in the City of Woonsocket without first obtaining a license therefor from the Woonsocket City Council. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 1, 6-17-74)
No person shall be licensed to practice massage or conduct an establishment for giving massage, vapor, shower, or other baths unless they (male or female) meet the following requirements:
(a) Be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
(b) Be of good moral and ethical character.
(c) Submit to the Woonsocket City Council a completed application form containing all information requested by said form.
(d) Have completed an approved course of massage in an establishment approved and accredited by the State of Rhode Island and/or the American Association Massage Therapy Inc., or have had at least six (6) months experience in an approved massage establishment.
(e) Have had a physical examination, including serological examination and chest X-ray, within forty-five (45) days prior to application for licensing or relicensing. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 6, 6-17-74)
Every establishment for the giving of massage or vapor, pool, shower or other baths shall meet the following standards:
(a) It shall be connected to the public sewerage system, or an approved private sanitary sewerage system in the event a public sewerage system is not available.
(b) It shall be well-lighted, well-ventilated and properly heated when seasonally indicated.
(c) No room used by the licensee in the conduct of his business shall be used as a bedroom.
(d) There shall be an adequate supply of hot and cold running water at all times.
(e) There shall be approved toilet and washing facilities within the premises, readily available to the patrons and affording sufficient privacy.
(f) Adequate dressing rooms, toilets and washing facilities shall be provided.
(g) All rooms of the establishment and furniture and equipment therein shall be kept clean at all times.
(h) The door of each room or enclosure used for massage purposes shall have an unobstructed window large enough to permit visual observation of the entire room or enclosure from outside such room or enclosure.
(i) Each room or enclosure used for the giving of massage services shall be adequately lighted.
(j) There shall be installed a heat and smoke detecting system approved by the chief of the fire department of Woonsocket.
(k) There shall be adequate facilities for the cleaning and sterilizing of all equipment.
(l) All rooms in the establishment shall be arranged so as to afford adequate fire protection and shall have satisfactory means of egress in case of fire as approved by the Woonsocket Building Inspector and the Woonsocket Fire Chief.
(m) All equipment, instruments, devices, robes, sheets, blankets, pillow cases, wearing apparel, towels or other materials which may come in direct contact with the body shall be properly cleaned and sterilized.
(n) No food or alcoholic beverages shall be permitted on the premises. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 7, 6-17-74)
The license fee for each establishment shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per year and for each masseur or masseuse ten dollars ($10.00) per year. A license issued to an establishment, masseur or masseuse is not transferable. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 2, 6-17-74)
Licenses shall automatically expire on April 30th of each year. Applications for renewal must be submitted at least thirty (30) days prior to expiration date. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 5, 6-17-74)
If any licensed person shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or shall permit any of the laws of the State of Rhode Island to be violated within the licensed establishment he may, in addition to any punishment, penalty or penalties which may be prescribed by statute for such offense, be summoned before the Woonsocket City Council when he and the witnesses for and against him may be heard; and if it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the city council hearing such charges that he has violated any of the provisions of this chapter or permitted any of the laws of the State of Rhode Island to be violated within the licensed establishment, then said city council may suspend or revoke his license or enter other order thereon. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 18, 6-17-74)
Every licensed establishment must display in a conspicuous location the licenses of all the licensees operating in the establishment. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 14, 6-17-74)
Every licensee shall notify the license clerk prior to any change of address, home or business, or name. Any new license or amendment to any existing license required because of the foregoing may be issued without charge at the discretion of the city council. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 16, 6-17-74)
No licensed person shall operate under any name or conduct his business under any designation not specified in his license (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 15, 6-17-74)
Every licensee shall permit the city council or its agents or other Woonsocket city authorities acting in an official capacity to inspect his work or his place of business at any reasonable time (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 17, 6-17-74)
No establishment for the practice of massage or baths as defined herein shall be kept open between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 13, 6-17-74)
All individuals who are engaged in the practice of massage shall be properly clothed within the bounds of decency and propriety. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 8, 6-17-74)
No instruments or devices designed or used for direct application to the skin shall be applied directly to the skin unless sterilized. The part of the body being treated shall be covered with a clean towel or else the instrument shall be covered in a similar manner. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 9, 6-17-74)
No sponge, stick, alum or other article liable to convey infection shall be used to make application directly to the skin or any cut or wound. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 10, 6-17-74)
No person licensed shall treat any person afflicted with any skin eruption or other disease unless such person shall have furnished written certificate from a physician to the effect that the eruption or disease is not of a contagious or transmissible character. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 11, 6-17-74)
Every person licensed to practice massage shall thoroughly cleanse his hands by washing with soap and hot water immediately before serving a patron. (Ch. No. 3008, Sec. 12, 6-17-74)